Amateur astronomer Bernard Arghiere looks to the sky from the Civic Center parking deck overlooking downtown Asheville. He has pushed for dark skies lighting laws in the city and county.

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Bernard Arghiere had been an amateur astronomer for decades when he got interested in light pollution.

The East Asheville resident started talking to elected leaders in the city in 2002 about what they could do to help.

Asheville had an ordinance at the time, but it didn't cover street lights or flood lights. Arghiere started asking staff and council members about changes. He became the community representative on a new city committee looking at the issue. ...